Welcome to DECODED, a blog site for those interested in the period of history between the end of the Second World War and the final reunification of Berlin, Germany. This site is maintained by a Cold War history enthusiast, for other Cold War history enthusiasts and will be a source of information from both sides of the Cold War for history enthusiasts, political science fans, researchers, military history collectors and military veterans alike. Please visit the site regularly for updates. This site by no means is to represent or endorse any political agenda or ideology, information contained within is strictly used for the purpose of education and preservation of history for future generations. Thank you for visiting my blog, and welcome to the brink...

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Uniforms of the West German Bundeswehr

West German military
regulations regarding uniforms were laid out in the Zentralen Dienstvorschrift
ZDv 37/10 "Anzugordnung für die Soldaten der Bundeswehr" or Joint
Service Regulation ZDv 37/10 "Dress Code for Soldier's of the Bundeswehr.
Chapter 2 of the regulations divided the uniforms of the armed forces into
several categories: Dienstanzug or Service Dress was covered in Section III,
Kampfanzug or Combat Dress was covered in Section IV, Gesellschaftsanzug or
Formal Dress was covered under Section V and Sportanzug or Sports Uniform was
covered under Section VI. Each uniform section is differentiated between the
respective services of the Bundeswehr.

The Dienstanzug in
its basic form is authorized for wear outside of military installations and as
a lesser version of a dress uniform when worn within military installations,
command posts and at other special events and services. There are also
specialized modifications authorized for the Dienstanzug such as different
headgear or raincoats all of which is further outlined in the ZDv 37/10.

Heer Uniforms

The Dienstanzug of
the Heer in its basic form differs between men and women accordingly. For men,
the Dienstanzug uniform consists of a beret or Bergmütze which is the
specialized cap worn by the Gebirgsjägertruppe, light grey service jacket known
as a Dienstjacke or grey skibluse or the Mountain jacket for the
Gebirgsjägertruppe, dark gray trousers, long sleeve service shirt, gray-blue
necktie, smooth black belt for wear with the trousers, black socks and black
service shoes.For women the only differentiation is the wear of a gray skirt,
long sleeve service blouse, a blue necktie, and light gray stockings. A special
variant of the Dienstanzug known as the Sommerdienstanzug or Summer Dienstanzug
is authorized for wear outside of West Germany and was typically designated for
wear south of the 40th parallel north latitude line. This uniform typically
worn by personnel on assignment to locations such as Holloman Air Force Base in
New Mexico or assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas in the United States consists of a
sand tan colored uniform variation of the service gray uniform.

A specialized version
of the Dienstanzug known as the Großer Dienstanzug or Great Dienstanzug is only
worn on command and special occasions. In this form of the service uniform,
boots are worn with the trousers bloused accordingly. A black leather belt is
also added worn over the service jacket. In cold weather scenarios, a greatcoat
is authorized for weather over the service jacket with the black leather belt
over it. In certain scenarios, the beret may be substituted with a helmet.

The primary uniform
designated for the Kampfanzug or Combat Dress of the West German Bundeswehr is
the Feldanzug, Olivfarben or Olive colored field uniform. This uniform was
introduced in the early 1960s to replace the poorly received Feldanzug,
jagdmeliert which consisted of a three piece olive-yellow suit which had a
goretex like lining and caused discomfort and annoyance amongst the troops. The
Feldanzug, Olivfarben was inspired by the olive green service uniforms worn by
uniforms of Germany's NATO partners such as the OG-107 uniform worn by the
United States Army. The uniform itself consisted of field trousers, a field
jacket, field shirt, field cap which could be substituted by a side cap or
beret and combat boots. For winter operations a combat field jacket was
authorized as well as knitted and leather gloves authorized for wear. In the
1980s an olive green sweater was authorized for wear over the field shirt
inspired by the sweaters of the British Army.

In 1990, the
Feldanzug, Olivfarben was phased out for the introduction of the Feldanzug,
Tarndruck or camouflaged field uniform. This uniform which utilizes the
'speckled' pattern referred to as 'Flecktarn' is the camouflage battle dress of
the Bundeswehr.

For social occasions,
the Gesellschaftsanzug or evening dress uniform is authorized for wear. This is
designated as the Ausgehuniform. It is only authorized for wear by
non-commissioned as well as commissioned officers accordingly. Male soldiers
Gesellschaftsanzugconsists of a jacket
with chain closure, trousers with a black silk dress stripe running along the
leg known as a 'Seidengalon', a black 'Torerobund' waist sash or black
cummerbund, and a white dress shirt which has concealed buttons, collar,
ruffles and embroidery as well as a black bow tie, and black dress shoes. As a
variation of the Gesellschaftsanzug, a black silk smoking jacket with a black
collar and black silk-covered shoulder epaulettes is authorized for wear. This
jacket is worn with miniature versions of awards and decorations. For women,
the Gesellschaftsanzug consists of a long dark blue skirt, a white blouse with
the federal Bundesadler insignia on the right collar with a long scarf worn
across the chest and over the white blouse a dark blue, short velvet jacket is
worn. As a modification to the female Gesellschaftsanzug, a short white silk
jacket is worn in conjunction with a blue blouse.

The Sportanzug or
Sports Uniform is worn primarily during physical training events and in its
basic form consists of a blue tracksuit available in two variations. One
variation consists of a pair of blue shorts and a blue shirt and the second
variation a blue pair of sweatpants and a windbreaker jacket. Different forms
of the Sportsanzug are also available in regards to the type of activity being
conducted. Other variations include a
swimwear / swimsuit, sports jersey, sports shorts, sports socks, sports
shoes for indoor and plastic-coated sports facilities and sports shoes for the
terrain.

Other uniforms are
authorized for wear by specialized branches within the Army such as the
Sanitätsdiensttruppe who when serving in military hospitals wear uniforms
similar to civilian doctors consisting of a consisting of a white shirt and
white trousers. Rank insignia is worn on the shirt. Medical personnel in the field environment
are authorized the wear of the white armand with the red cross insignia on the
left arm of the uniform. Aviators assigned to the Heeresfliegertruppe are
authorized the wear of the Flugdienstanzug, or flight service dress consisting
of an olive green one piece Nomex flight suit and soldiers assigned to armored
units such as the Panzertruppen are authorized the wear of the
Panzerkombination or Panzerkombi, a one piece uniform with pockets secured by
zippers rather than buttons. The Panzerkombi is made of flame retardant Nomex
material similar to the Flugdienstanzug
which is fire retardant in the event of
direct contact with fire, taking several seconds to catch fire, thus
increasing the chance of survival by the crewmember in the event of a vehicle
fire. On the back of the Panzerkombi, is an internal rescue loop, which is
hidden under a Velcro slit where a wounded crew member can be saved easily in
an emergency without assistance from the vehicle.

Luftwaffe Uniforms

The Dienstanzug for
the Luftwaffe is similar to that of the Heer instead differentiating by color
utilizing the colors of the Luftwaffe. For men, the Dienstanzug consists of a
blue sidecap, a blue service jacket, blue trousers, a long sleeve service
shirt, a blue necktie, smooth black trouser belt, black socks and a pair of
black shoes. For women, the Dienstanzug consists of a similar uniform but
authorizes the wear of stockings. As with the Army versions, there are
specialized variations which include a greatcoat, with black gloves and a visor
cap as well as a version with a blue jacket or blue pullover sweater with West
Germany's flag on the shoulders of the sweater.

The Luftwaffe also
has a form of the Sommerdienstanzug, or Summer Dress uniform of the sand tan
color which is authorized for wear in overseas postings. It is essentially the
same as the Army variation worn with Luftwaffe insignia and Luftwaffe issued
headgear. The Luftwaffe also maintains its own variation of the Großer
Dienstanzug as well as the Gesellschaftsanzug. Others uniforms worn by
Luftwaffe personnel include Air Force approved versions of the medical service
uniform as well as a blue gray version of the Flugdienstanzug for those on
flight status.

Bundesmarine Uniforms

The Dienstanzug for
the Bundesmarine is similar to that of the other branches of the Bundeswehr yet
more reminiscent of Navy's around the world. It however differs amongst
enlisted personnel and non-commissioned and commissioned officers. For enlisted
personnel or Mannschaften, the uniform consists of a white service middy with
blue collar and black tie, worn with black trousers and the white round 'Donald
Duck' style sailors cap with a black cap tally with gold lettering denoting the
service of the sailor. This uniform is available in a white or dark blue
version for wear during summer or winter accordingly. The Dienstanzug for
Non-Commissioned Officers or Commissioned Officers consists of a white peaked
cap, dark blue service jacket, dark blue trousers, a white long sleeve service
shirt, a long black tie, a black trouser belt, black socks and a pair of black
shoes. For females, a dark blue skirt and long sleeve white blouse is
authorized for wear with the Dienstanzug as well as stockings.

Like the Heer and
Luftwaffe, the Bundesmarine has an alternate version of the Dienstanzug
authorized for wear depending on the order of the day which may include a
jacket, greatcoat, sweater or Colani coat.

The Bundesmarine also
maintains a version of the Sommerdienstanzug but also maintains a secondary
specialized uniform unique to its service. The weiße Sommerdienstanzug or White
Summer Dress Uniform is authorized only for wear by the personnel of the
Bundesmarine and consists of a white jacket and trousers, along with a white
long sleeve shirt and dark blue tie. For women a white skirt is authorized for
wear with the weiße Sommerdienstanzug.

Unlike the other
services of the Bundeswehr, the Bundesmarine signifies rank with insignia
embroidered onto the lower sleeves of the uniform rather than utilizing
shoulderboards. Shoulderboards are however worn on uniforms such as the
Sommerdienstanzug or weiße Sommerdienstanzug. On the enlisted personnel the
rank insignia is usually sewn halfway upon the middy sleeve.

The Bundesmarine
maintains its own Kampfanzug referred to as Bordgefechtsanzug or Board Battle
Uniform. This uniform consists of a dark blue zipper jacket, a light blue shirt
and dark blue trousers with leg pockets. The uniform is made of fire retardant
aramid materials for better protecting the wearer from fires. Specialized board
shoes and headgear are authorized for wear with the Bordgefechtsanzug. For cold
weather operations there is a dark blue parka authorized for wear. For use
during wet weather there is an orange wetsuit authorized for wear as well as
specialized cold protective clothing. Soldier of the U-boat service also
maintain their own specialized protective clothing.